All aboard! Train buffs all set to celebrate 50th anniversary of iconic 3801 locomotive film.

By ANNA USHER

Local train buffs with a soft spot for the good old days are in for a treat this April, when A Steam Train Passes, recognised as Australia’s finest railway film, returns to the big screen.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of its theatrical release, the acclaimed movie will be showcased in 4K resolution at a special gala event at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne.

Presented by Transport Heritage NSW and the National Film and Sound Archive, the film is a nostalgic essay on one of the now retired C38 class steam locomotives, filmed on its final journey from Sydney to a series of country railway stations.

The 38 class trains remained the darlings of the railways until their withdrawal from service in the 1960s and 1970s. A total of 30 engines were built, and today, the iconic 3801 is the only streamlined steam locomotive to survive in NSW.

The gala Orpheum event will also feature a newly produced short documentary by Transport Heritage NSW, offering an exclusive look at the making of the film with Anthony Buckley, Dean Semler, David Haythornthwaite and George Dreyfus, with insights from renowned Australian director and producer George Miller.

Watch the Trailer

In addition, cinema-goers will enjoy a screening of Western Endeavour (1970) and exclusive, never-before-seen footage from NFSA’s Jim Powe Collection, a significant archive of Australian train and tram film and audio recordings spanning the late 1960s to the 1990s, live commentated by NFSA Curator Jeff Wray.

“Few films have captured the romance and power of steam like A Steam Train Passes,” said THNSW’s Head of Engagement David Bennett.

“The film not only played a vital role in preserving steam train operations in NSW but also helped cement 3801’s legendary status.”

Originally released in 1974, A Steam Train Passes will deliver a trip down memory lane for many on the lower north shore, Meagan Loader from the National Film and Sound Archive said.

“It’s a breath-taking reminder of the beauty of slow travel and being immersed in the landscape,” she said, “It’s also an insight into the passion that so many have for these remarkable feats of engineering and innovation.”

Details:

April 2nd at 6pm. Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace. For tickets and more information, visit thnsw.com.au/steam-train-passes or call 1300 11 55 99.